4 Ways to Get to the New National Museum of African American History and Culture

Published Sep 19, 2016 at 4:27 PM

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This weekend marks the official opening of the Smithsonian's new National Museum of African American History and Culture, located on the National Mall at 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

This weekend marks the official opening of the Smithsonian's new National Museum of African American History and Culture, located on the National Mall at 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. But the museum's long-anticipated opening will bring with it road closures and large crowds. During the dedication ceremony Saturday morning, there will be no public or bus parking near the museum, meaning you'll need to explore other options.

Try to avoid the stops closest to the museum, Smithsonian and Federal Triangle, which are likely to be very busy. Instead, consider walking from other nearby stations, such as Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Metro Center or McPherson Square.

While these are a 15- to 20-minute walk away, they may not be as crowded.

With lots of locations around the D.C. area, Capital Bikeshare is another option.

Go here for a complete map of station locations. The closest bike bays to the museum are:

Jefferson Drive at 14th Street SW

Smithsonian/Jefferson Drive at 12th Street SW

10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW

17th Street & Independence Avenue SW

However, keep in mind that they may fill up fast.

4. Taxi, Uber or Lyft

Depending on where you're coming from, taking a taxi, an Uber or a Lyft will get you close to the museum -- just don&'t forget about traffic and road closures. Both Uber and Lyft offer credit toward your first ride if you've never used their services before.